Ranunculus Alismifolius, Plantain-leaf Buttercup

Ranunculus alismifolius occurs in most mountainous areas of the West, over a wide range of elevations, and can be abundant in suitable habitats. Plants are quite variable, in such aspects as height, growth form, number of petals, leaf margins, leaf shape and hairiness; there are six recognized varieties, mostly occupying distinct regions.

Plants are usually hairless. Basal leaves are relatively wide, ovate to elliptic, with acute bases, and attached by stalks of similar length to the blade, while stem leaves are short-stalked, or stalkless, and narrowly lanceolate in shape. Leaf tips vary from sharp-pointed to rounded.

The five sepals may be hairy or glabrous, reflexed or spreading, and they wither before the flowers open. The yellow petals number between five and 12. The yellow stamens form a ring, and are generally appressed close to the petals, while the shorter green carpels form a tight cluster at the center.